(1) Nelson Phillips, Sr.
Nelson Phillips (1873-1939), lawyer and jurist, son of Charles Edward and Jennie L. (Arrington) Phillips, was born on May 3, 1873, at Jefferson, Texas. He was educated in public schools at Hillsboro and attended Bingham Military Academy at Mebane, North Carolina, for two years. He worked in his father's bank and read law at night until 1895, when he was admitted to the bar and became a law partner of Thomas S. Smith. In 1904 S. W. T. Lanham appointed Phillips to fill an unexpired term as judge of the Eighteenth Judicial District.
From 1905 to 1909 Phillips was a law partner of Yancy Lewis; he practiced alone until April 3, 1912, when O. B. Colquitt appointed him associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Phillips was elected to the office in November 1912, was appointed chief justice on May 27, 1915, and was elected to the office in 1916 and in 1918. He resigned to resume private practice in 1921. On October 21, 1896, he married Susie McFadden at Milford; they had one son. Phillips died in Dallas on March 31, 1939, and was buried there in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Sam Hanna Acheson, Herbert P. Gambrell, Mary Carter Toomey, and Alex M. Acheson, Jr., Texian Who's Who, Vol. 1 (Dallas: Texian, 1937). National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (New York: White, 1891-), Vol. 29. Texas Bar Journal, May 1939.
-Kaye A. Walker
Source: Texas State Historical Commission, Handbook of Texas: tshaonline.org
(2) Nelson Phillips, Jr.
Nelson Phillips, Jr., a Dallas resident for 85 years, died December 7, 1990. He was born October 13, 1898 in Hillsboro, Texas.
His family moved to Dallas in 1905. He attended the Cumberland Hill School (now occupied by Sedco) and Terrell School for Boys. In 1912, his father was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, and the family had to go to Austin. Attended Austin High School, graduating in 1916, and the University of Texas, graduating in 1920 with an A.B. degree. Manager of the U.T. Baseball Team in 1919. Served in World War I, attended Plattsburgh Training Camp and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry of the United States Army. Attended University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1923. Member of hi Delta Theta Social fraternity, Phi Delta Phi honorary legal fraternity, the Raven Society, and Virginia Law Review. Practiced law in Dallas for more than fifty years in association with his father, Murphy W. Townsend, and Tom Scurry. Was General Counsel of Cosden Petroleum Corporation for twenty years until its acquisition by American Petrofina and a member of its Board of Directors for 25 years. Was a ruling elder of Highland Park Presbyterian Church and served as Trustee of that church. He was a trustee of the Dallas Historical Society for many years and named Trustee Emeritus in 1982. Married Edna Daffan Gilmer of Houston on October 11, 1930. Member of the City Club, Idlewild Club, Dallas Bar Association, Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and an honorary member of the Mexican Bar.
Survived by his wife, Edna Phillips, Dallas; sister, Mrs. Carol Gilmer, Houston, Tx.; nieces, Mrs. George Watson, Dallas, Mrs. Richard Hagens, Mrs. Margaret Gilmer, Mrs. Pat Rigsby, all of Houston.
Memorial Service 2:00 P.M., Monday, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Main Sanctuary, Rev. Russell Jonas and Rev. Wm. F. Pruitt, officiating. Private interment Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Sparkman-Hillcrest Northwest Highway.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas, Saturday, December 8, 1990
